“The letter I had Young Lady Qing take—what letter?” Lu Huating asked.

“An unopened letter!” Juan Su said. “Supervisor Pei said that day someone placed the letter on his desk. Before he could open it, he locked it together with other letters in the treasure cabinet. Then the Chief Administrator and Young Lady Qing arrived. Later, when Supervisor Pei was sorting things, he discovered the lock had been picked. After thinking for quite some time, he realized it was that unopened letter that was missing!”

A few words were enough for Lu Huating to quickly piece together the cause and effect.

That day’s verbal intimidation could at most frighten Supervisor Pei temporarily. Going from luxury to frugality is difficult—after that old fellow scrubbed chamber pots for a while, he probably would soon come to his senses and inform Meng Guangshen, working together to find ways to deal with him.

Until he discovered the lock on the treasure cabinet had been picked—only then did Supervisor Pei truly panic.

Supervisor Pei probably thought that day’s Dali Temple search for Yu Nu was just a cover, and Lu Huating’s real purpose was to have Qun Qing retrieve correspondence with the Meng family for him, obtaining more important evidence. His fear meant the correspondence must contain cases even greater than violating palace maids—for instance, this one Zhu Su delivered.

Ordering Supervisor Pei to poison Palace Academy Scholar Su Run to death.

Lu Huating lowered his eyes and closed the letter.

Supervisor Pei didn’t know specifically which letters were lost, but he was certain that unopened one was gone. And because the letter’s contents were unknown, the more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. Only then was he willing to hand over the other letters—simply betraying the Meng family and thoroughly surrendering to Prince Yan.

The lock must have been picked by Qun Qing that day.

But he had never told her to take any letter. Could she have stolen a letter and not told him?

In an instant, Lu Huating’s mind flashed back to that scene in the stone cave—Qun Qing showing him the palace registry, which happened to be contained in an envelope.

That so-called missing letter very likely was the palace registry Qun Qing had taken.

A palace servant’s registry individually contained in an envelope was already abnormal. According to Supervisor Pei’s account, this registry was delivered by someone that day and temporarily placed on his desk.

Lu Huating couldn’t help looking toward the person taking the examination. Incense smoke coiled. Qun Qing concentrated on answering, still completely unaware that her palace registry seemingly wasn’t withheld by Supervisor Pei.

It seemed the relationships among Southern Chu operatives were also treacherous and unpredictable.

A cold smile floated in Lu Huating’s eyes, finding it absurdly amusing: “Go check the Lateral Courts’ records from that day. Between when Supervisor Pei left and Young Lady Qing entered, who else went into the supervisor’s main hall?”

—

The Bureau of Clothing’s first examination tested knowledge of textiles, palace garments, color distinctions, and palace regulations established after the sage ascended the throne.

Not difficult.

After flipping through twice, Qun Qing felt greatly reassured. Before the incense seal had burned halfway, she had already answered most of it. She only heard rustling sounds beside her.

The noble lady’s skirts spread like a blooming flower, the petals pushing against the jade pendants and tokens at her waist. Unlike the palace maids, she didn’t kneel properly but sat on a velvet cushion she brought herself. Even so, she still felt constrained and uncomfortable. She stretched out her legs to move them, her shoe tips stepping on Qun Qing’s skirt.

Sensing Qun Qing’s gaze, the noble lady glanced at her sideways. Seeing she was a palace maid, she paid no attention and withdrew her leg in displeasure. Her appearance was originally above average, but under this luxurious makeup, she appeared domineering and unapproachable.

Qun Qing could glimpse the name on the wooden plaque on her desk.

Cui Ying. What a coincidence—Lady Cui Er.

Cui Zhu’s younger sister.

Qun Qing was calculating this when suddenly a shocked cry broke the hall’s tranquility. The women taking the examination all looked back, only to see two guards suddenly seizing a Siyi female official who had been stationed at the hidden door. Her expression was terrified as she kicked and struggled continuously: “It wasn’t me! Let me go!”

“What’s this?” Gu Shangyi was also stunned.

“Shangyi needn’t panic—Prince Yan’s mansion is investigating Southern Chu operatives.” Zhu Su bowed, though his expression couldn’t be called respectful. “Take her away!”

“How could there be operatives in the Bureau of Clothing?” Gu Shangyi hadn’t reacted yet.

“This is exactly why we must ask Gu Shangyi why you examined so poorly, allowing operatives to infiltrate?” Juan Su said.

The guards were fierce toward Siyi Wang, who also struggled loudly, completely losing composure as she was dragged directly out the hall door. The women taking the examination were all terrified. Those noble ladies had never experienced such a scene and were frightened pale, almost unable to hold their brushes, let alone read the words on their papers.

Qun Qing’s expression didn’t change, but her face was somewhat white.

She rubbed the corner of the examination paper with her fingers. When Siyi Wang passed by earlier, she was certain she didn’t recognize this woman. But if this person was “Heaven,” Siyi Wang would know her identity—would she reveal her?

Not knowing where Siyi Wang was taken for interrogation, her sharp curses soon came through. The voice was small but made everyone present hear clearly: “The Li family usurped power and stole the throne… what face do they have to inherit the great succession… Southern Chu will kill its way back one day—those who do much wrong will bring destruction upon themselves!”

She had confessed. The cursing seemed to hammer blow by blow on Qun Qing’s temples.

The incense seal drew closer to the bottom. Sweat had already formed on Qun Qing’s forehead, yet she forced herself to continue writing in the blank spaces. As long as she wasn’t completely exposed, she was Qun Qing and still had to fight for her future prospects.

Gu Shangyi truly couldn’t bear it anymore. Shaking her rotund body, she pushed open the door and walked into the side hall. Upon encountering Siyi Wang hung high with disheveled hair and a mouth full of blood, she was so frightened she turned her head away and said to Zhu Su: “The selection is ongoing next door. Just drag the person away. Why must you create difficulties here, affecting the ladies’ answers!”

“Selecting people for the Bureau of Clothing—remaining unshaken should also count as part of the assessment?” A pleasant voice sounded from behind, yet inexplicably made people feel cold.

Gu Shangyi turned her head. Lu Huating was actually sitting on the raised jade steps with his robes gathered, playing with a folding fan, observing quietly and casually. “This is how operatives are interrogated. As long as those ladies aren’t Southern Chu operatives, why would they be afraid?”

Gu Shangyi covered her nose, blocking the nauseating bloody smell. She knew the person before her was deeply trusted by Prince Yan’s consort, so she could only withdraw, close the door tightly, and even pressed her foot against the door crack several times.

“Were you the one who placed the envelope on Lateral Courts Supervisor Pei’s desk that day? Before the hour of si that day, only you entered Supervisor Pei’s chamber.” Lu Huating asked Siyi Wang. “Do you know what was inside the envelope?”

Even beaten to death, Siyi Wang couldn’t imagine she was exposed because of this matter. But why? Her eyeballs rolled hesitantly: “I don’t know!”

“You went to deliver a letter without even knowing its contents.” Lu Huating said. “You’re merely a pawn. Who sent you?”

Facing Lu Huating’s pressing gaze, Siyi Wang now clenched her teeth tightly, remaining silent.

“Let me rephrase the question.” Seeing she wouldn’t reveal her superior, Lu Huating looked aside. “Among the ladies taking the examination today, are any of your accomplices? If you tell me, I’ll spare your life.”

He observed Siyi Wang’s expression. Her face showed complete bewilderment. After a moment, she said vaguely: “Cui Ying—Cui Ying is also one!”

“Chief Administrator.” Zhu Su saw Lu Huating stand up, preparing to leave the side hall.

“This is just wild accusation. Cui Ying is Cui Zhu’s younger sister—she cannot be an operative. She probably doesn’t remember the names of any of today’s examination candidates except Cui Ying.” Lu Huating said as he walked. “It seems she doesn’t know the other operatives’ identities. You handle this as you see fit.”

Outside, the sunlight was glaring. Lu Huating used his fan to shade his forehead, the shadow falling on that white jade-like elegant face, his eyes’ expression indiscernible.

Qun Qing had gotten lucky once again.

A bronze gong sounded. The examination papers were collected. The women taking the examination all rubbed their wrists and rose, expressions varied: “All that shouting and yelling scared people to death. Now there’s no sound—did she die?”

“My heart was jumping the whole time—I almost didn’t finish!”

“There really are so many Southern Chu operatives. Even the Bureau of Clothing has operatives. Could there be operatives among us too?”

“Stop talking nonsense. I heard this first examination wasn’t too difficult. There are still the second and third examinations, and Prince Yan’s consort will personally question us…”

The chatter rang in Qun Qing’s ears. She stood quietly with lowered sleeves, waiting. No one came to arrest her. Her clenched fingers gradually relaxed, her palm soaked with cold sweat.

Perhaps this Siyi Wang was merely “Killer” and didn’t know her identity. At least one “Heaven” in the palace had lost a right and left hand, which was actually a good thing for her.

Within her line of sight, the lavishly dressed Cui Ying was talking with Bao Shu outside the hall. Qun Qing walked out.

Her embroidered shoes stepped across Cui Ying’s shawl trailing on the ground.

“No eyes, you!” Cui Ying spun around sharply, stern in voice and expression as she yanked out the shawl, only regretting her raised palm couldn’t slap that face.

However, the person didn’t shrink and dodge as she expected. Her face was润white, gazing at her flatly and calmly.

“You’re a servant without any manners?” Cui Ying said.

“Manners are needed to serve the palace’s mistresses. What are you?” Qun Qing looked at her. “If palace servants in this palace are truly lowly, I wonder why that lady beside you is still fighting to do this job?”

Cui Ying immediately wanted to explode, but Bao Shu grabbed her wrist.

Before, if Qun Qing had spoken this way, she would only have been so angry smoke came from her seven orifices, reaching out to teach her a lesson. But after suffering two major losses at this person’s hands and nearly being unable to recover, she no longer dared look down on Qun Qing: “Young Lady Qing, the previous times were my fault. You must know there are always people better than oneself, heavens beyond heaven. Please don’t hold it against me.”

“I wouldn’t dare—I just spoke excessively.” Seeing her submit, Qun Qing also smiled faintly at her. Bao Shu had a beauty mark below her eye and when she smiled had a somewhat pitiable sweetness, looking much more pleasing than before.

Seeing Bao Shu so fearful of Qun Qing, Cui Ying thought it was because Qun Qing had some status in the palace. Feeling stifled: “We’re different from you—we’re noble ladies. You? You just rely on your master’s favor. If you don’t pass today, when you’re older and leave the palace, you’ll just be wrapped in a straw mat and buried!”

“I accept your auspicious words—I quite look forward to leaving the palace.” Qun Qing smiled half-genuinely, half-falsely. “I hear you have an elder brother of marriageable age who hasn’t wed. I wonder if I’d be suitable for him?”

She actually dared covet Cui Zhu?! Cui Ying laughed in anger: “You really are—delusional! You should inquire about who my brother is!” She looked Qun Qing up and down twice. That stifled anger blocked her chest. Rolling her eyes, she said: “However, my elder brother truly does like women like you who don’t know their place and aren’t ladylike.”

“In his youth, my brother liked a woman skilled at sword dancing who looked just like you. Unfortunately, she was shallow—she’d rather become an old member of the gentry’s concubine than marry my brother.”

Cui Ying smiled slightly at Qun Qing: “Later, my brother found many women like that, making them submit and grovel without giving them status. He loves watching you submit, breaking your proud bones, then discarding you like worn shoes. I think you’d be quite suitable.”

These words drifted into his ears. Lu Huating’s steps halted, his dark eyes staring directly at Cui Ying who uttered those words.

Then his gaze changed because he saw that Cui family token tied at Cui Ying’s waist had somehow ended up in Qun Qing’s hands. Red thread wound around her slender fingers as she imperceptibly hid it in her sleeve.

Truly always scheming, never seen provoked to anger by humiliation.

Lu Huating silently passed these people and entered the hall.

At that moment, the bronze gong sounded. The women all rushed back into the hall to sit properly. The second examination began.

Xiao Yunru looked through the first examination papers behind the screen, eyelashes lowered, expression solemn.

Lu Huating extracted a paper and scanned it rapidly.

Qun Qing’s characters were elegant and neat. Even listening to her accomplice’s screams, she hadn’t left a single ink blot from panic. Lu Huating scanned from right to left, not even seeing where her thinking had stalled. After reading, Lu Huating couldn’t help raising his eyes.

Through the openwork of the golden screen, Qun Qing’s expression was so calm and unrippled it appeared ice-crystal clear. If he hadn’t returned from three years in the future, it would be hard to believe this person was an operative.

So formidable—she probably would have to be hung up and tortured like that Siyi Wang to break this composure.

For some reason, as Lu Huating idly thought to this point, his eyes suddenly contained a brightness like flames. He very much looked forward to that day, but that day must be saved for last. He returned the paper to Xiao Yunru.

“How is it?” Xiao Yunru asked.

“Every point is correct, perfect and flawless.” Lu Huating said flatly.